Coiler stop motion apparatus for textile machines



A. B. NIVENS May 2, 1967 COILER STOP MOTION APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 10, 1964 m m N E V W.

ALLEN B. NwENs n /Mi i,

' ATTORNEYS y 2, 1967 A. B. NIVENS 3,316,597

COILER STOP MOTION APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed July 10, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BYwj zjtgawgLal/ui ATTORNEYS y 2, 1967 A. B. NIVENS 3,316,597

COILER STOP MOTION APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed July 10, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q g 8 I I x A Q INVENTOR I.

ALLEN B. NIVENS BYMMMMql-M ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,316,597 Patented May 2, 1967 Filed July 10, 1964, Ser. No. 381,793 7 Claims. (Cl. 19-.2)

This invention relates to apparatus for automatically stopping a textile machine such as a draw frame or card, for example, having calender rolls, a coiler mechanism, and .a can or receptacle, when the textile material, such as sliver, being fed by the calendar rolls bunches or becomes choked-up between the coiler mechanism and the calender rolls, or when the coiled sliver in the can exceeds a predetermined amount.

In textile machines of this type, a continuous stream of sliver is normally fed by calender rolls to a coiler mechanism for coiling the sliver into the can or receptacle. During this operation the undesirable condition of sliver bunching and choking-up often occurs between the calender rolls and the coiler mechanism.

This bunching and choke-up is caused by a variety of reasons, such as (1) an excess amount of oil from the fibers accumulating on the calender rolls which would cause the calender rolls to adhesively retain some of the sliver as it is being fed theret-hr-ough and cause bunching and choke-up between the calender rolls and the coiler mechanism often resulting in breakage of the flow of sliver through the coiler mechanism, (2) an accumulation of oil from the fibers occurring in the mouth of the coiler mechanism causing the sliver to bunch or choke-up therein, and (3) nicks or roughened .areas in the surfaces of the calender rolls or the coiler mechanism which would snag the sliver and cause bunching or choke-up between them. The bunching and choke-up of the sliver not only results in an uneven flow of sliver through the coiler mechanism or a break in the flow of sliver through the coiler mechanism, but also often damages the component parts of the machine, particularly if the condition is of a prolonged duration.

Also, as is well known in textile machines of this type, a counting means is provided for stopping operation of the textile machine when a predetermined amount of sliver is coiled by the coiler mechanism into the can or receptacle. However, for example, it a partially filled can is inadvertently placed under the coiler mechanism, coiled sliver will be directed to the can which will not only exceed the predetermined amount which normally stops operation of the textile machine, but also the capacity of the can, thus causing possible damage to the textile machine.

Numerous devices are known for stopping the operation of a textile machine when the above described conditions of choke-up and bunching occur and when the coiled sliver in the can or receptacle exceeds the capacity thereof. However, these known devices are relatively complex and do not have the sensitivity that is desired for quick stopping, particularly in high speed machine operations wherein the sliver is being delivered at the rate of 750 to 1500 feet per minute. Also, these known devices are substantially mechanical in nature and therefore, cumbersome and less sensitive.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a greatly simplified, highly sensitive stop motion in association with the calender rolls and the coiler mechanism for stopping a textile machine when the sliver moving therethrough bunches and becomes choked-up between the calender rolls and the coiler mechanism or when the coil sliver in the can or receptacle exceeds the capacity thereof.

It is a more specific object to provide an electrical stop motion wherein means are provided for stopping operation of the textile machine when any of the above described undersirable conditions occur. A further more specific object is to provide a stop motion mechanism disposed between the calender rolls and the coiler mechanism which is electrically connected to the operating circuit of the textile machine and which will ground out the electrical operating circuit upon any of the above described undesirable conditions occurring.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the front portion of a textile machine having the automatic stopping apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view taken substantially along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view stantially along the lines 3--3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional side elevational view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrating sliver choke-up occurring between the calender rolls and the coiler mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing sliver choke-up occurring in the entrance area of the sliver passageway of the coiler mechanism;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating the component parts of the apparatus in a raised position for stopping the textile machine which occurs when the capacity of the can has been exceeded; and

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical operating circuit of the textile machine of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a textile machine having a stationary frame 10, drafting rolls ill, a trumpet arm 12 pivotally mounted on the stationary frame 10, a hollow trumpet 13 carried by the trumpet arm, a pair of calender rolls 14 and 15 mounted for rotation in a conventional manner. The machine further includes a coiler mechanism 16 disposed immediately below the calender rolls 14 and 15 and comprising a coiler cover 17 resting on a spectacle plate 18 which in turn is conventionally carried by the machine frame it a coiler tube gear 20 rotatably mounted on the coiler cover 17 by sealed bearings 2d, a seal ring 23 mounted on said coiler cover 17 and overlying the bearings 2 1, and a felt ring 24 disposed between the seal ring 23 and the bearings 21 to seal the bearings from lint. The machine further includes a can or receptacle 25 disposed directly below the coiler mechanism.

This textile machine operates in the manner understood by those with ordinary skill in the art to pass a continuous stream of sliver S through the drafing rolls 111, through the trumpet 13, between the calender rolls 14 and 15, into the coiler mechanism I6, and into the can 25.

Normally, counting means (not shown) are provided to stop operation of the textile machine when a predetermined amount of sliver has passed through and been coiled into the can 25 by the coiler mechanism 16.

It is desirable in this type of textile machine that the flow of sliver S flow evenly between the calender rolls and the coiler mechanism without becoming bunched and choked-up therebetween. If the sliver S does become bunched and choked-up between the calender rolls 14 and 15 and the coiler mechanism 16, it is desirable to stop operation of the textile machine and correct the undesirable condition. It is also desirable to stop operation of the textile machine if the coiled sliver S in the can 25 exceeds the capacity thereof, which will occur if the can 25 has sliver or other material inadvertently left taken subtherein when the counting means begins measuring the amount of sliver being coiled by the coiler mechanism 16.

For stopping the operation of the textile machine, there is provided a stopping means, generally indicated by the reference numeral 26. This stopping means 26 comprises a detector 27 having a passageway therein for the passage of sliver S therethrough from the calender rolls 14 and 15 to the coiler mechanism 16, and resilient means 30 normally maintaining the detector in a normal operating position when the sliver is normally moving through said calender rolls, said detector, and said coiler mechanism, and when the coiled sliver in the can 25 has not exceeded the capacity thereof. The detector 27, as illustrated in the drawings, is in the form of a generally circular plate having a hollow guide tube 31, commonly referred to as a French tube, carried thereby in the center thereof for passage of the sliver S therethrough from the calender rolls 14 and 15 to the coiler mechanism 16. However, it is to be understood that the detector 27 may be formed of various configurations or shapes. The resilient means 30 for normally maintaining the detector in a normal operating position comprises three screws 32 adjustably carried by the cover 17 and extending through the detector 2 7 at opposite sides, and the front portion thereof, as may be seen in FIGURE 3. The resilient means 30 further includes grommets 33, which may be formed of a soft rubber or any suitable electrically insulating material, and which are carried by the detector 27 and encircle screws 32 to thus insulatingly mount the detector 27 on screws 32. For maintaining detector 27 in the desired normal operating position, compression springs 34 encircle the screws, underneath the grommets and are compressed between the cover 17 and the respective grommets.

The detector .27 is formed of a suitable electrically conductive material and is operatively connected to the electrical circuit of the textile machine, as may be seen in FIGURE 7. The electrical circuit of the textile machine comprises a source of power 35 which supplies electricity to a motor 36 which drives the machine through an electromagnetic clutch 37. The power source 35 maintains the clutch 37 in engagement for driving the machine by supplying electricity to the clutch 37 through a normally deactivated solenoid 38 which in turn is in normally closed circuit with contacts 39 and 40. The detector 27 is electrically connected to solenoid 38 and in its above described normal operating position, shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 7, it operates as a normally open switch in the electrical circuit. The calender roll 15 and the seal ring 23 of the coiler mechanism 16 are formed of suitable electrically conductive material and are adapted to form switch contacts for association with the detector 27 which lead to ground through the frame of the machine 10.

During normal machine operation, when the textile sliver has not bunched and become choked-up between the calender rolls and the coiler mechanism and when the coiled sliver in the can or receptacle has not exceeded the capacity thereof, the detector 27 is maintained in its normal operating position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 wherein the detector is out of contact with seal ring 23 and calender roll 15. However, if the sliver S becomes bunched and choked-up between the calender rolls 14 and 15 and the detector 27, as shown in FIGURE 4, the bunched sliver will exert a downward force on the detector plate 27 to force the detector downwardly against the compression of springs 34 to force the detector 27 into contact with the seal ring 23, grounded to the frame, to thereby actuate the solenoid 38 to withdraw the solenoid from contacts 39 and 40 and shut-off the supply of electricity to the clutch 37 to disengage the clutch 37 and stop operation of the textile machine.

Also, if the textile sliver S becomes bunched or chokedup in the mouth of the entrance passageway of the tube gear 20, the sliver will exert an upward force on the detector 27 which will raise the detector as shown in FIG- URE 5 and thus cause the detector to come in contact with the calender roll 15 grounded to the frame, which Will activate the solenoid 38 to withdraw it from contacts 39 and 40 and shut-off the supply of electricity to clutch 37 to disengage clutch 37 and thereby stop operation of the textile machine. In like manner, if the coiled sliver in can 25 exceeds the above described predetermined amount, it will exert an upward force on coiler mechanism 1-6 to raise the coiler mechanism 16, and detector 27 to the upper position illustrated in FIGURE 6. In this position the detector 27 is in contact with the calender roll 15 and will thus stop operation of the textile machine in the manner described above.

As will be apparent from the above description, this invention provides apparatus which will automatically shut off a textile machine when the flow of sliver between the calender rolls 14 and 15 and the coiler mechanism 16 becomes bunched and choked-up, or if the coiled sliver in the can 25 exceeds the capacity thereof. It may be also seen, that a highly sensitive electrical stop motion apparatus is provided to stop the operation of the textile machine under the three described conditions and that the elements of the stop motion apparatus are so located in the textile machine as not to interfere with the normal working of the various components of the textile machine.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a textile sliver processing machine having a stationary frame, an electrical circuit for controlling operation of the machine, a vertically movable coiler mechanism associated with said stationary frame and adapted to receive and pass therethrough and coil a continuous flow of textile sliver, a can having a predetermined sliver capacity associated with said coiler mecahnism and adapted to receive coiled sliver from said coiler mechanism, said coiler mechanism being adapted to be raised when the coiled sliver in the can exceeds the capacity thereof, and a pair of rotatable calender rolls carried by said frame and disposed above said coiler mechanism for feeding sliver therebetween to said coiler mechanism; the combination of a detector disposed between the calender rolls and the coiler mechanism, means normally maintaining said detector in a normal position to maintain operation of the textile machine when the sliver is uninterruptedly passing from the calender rolls through the coiler mechanism in a normal manner and when the coiled sliver in the can has not exceeded the capacity thereof, said detector being movable from said normal position to a raised position upon a choke-up occurring between the detector and the coiler mechanism, or upon the coiled sliver in the can exceeding the capacity thereof and raising the coiler mechanism, said detector being movable from said normal position to a lowered position upon a choke-up occurring between the detector and the calender rolls, and said detector being operatively connected to the electrical circuit of the textile machine for interrupting the operation of the textile machine when the detector is located at either of said raised or lowered positions.

2. In a textile sliver processing machine having a stationary frame, an electrical circuit for controlling operation of the machine, a vertically movable coiler mechanism associated with said stationary frame and adapted to receive and pass therethrough and coil a continuous flow of textile sliver, a can having a predetermined sliver capacity associated with said coiler mechanism and adapted to receive coiled sliver from said coiler mechanism, said coiler mechanism being adapted to be raised when the coiled sliver in the can exceeds the capacity thereof, and a pair of rotatable calender rolls carried by said frame and disposed above said coiler mechanism for feeding sliver therebetween to said coiler mechanism; the combination of an electrically conductive detector disposed between the calender rolls and the coiler mechanism, and having a sliver passageway therethrough, means normally maintaining said detector in a normal position out of electrical engagement with said calender rolls and said coiler mechanism to maintain operation of the textile machine when the sliver is uninterruptedly passing from the calender rolls through the coiler mechanism in a normal manner and when the coiled sliver in the can has not exceeded the capacity thereof, said detector being movable from said normal position to a raised position into contact with one of said calender rolls upon a choke-up occurring between the detector and the coiler mechanism, or upon the coiled sliver in the can exceeding the capacity thereof and raising the coiler mechanism, said detector being movable to a lowered position into contact with said coiler mechanism upon a choke-up occurring between the detector and the calender rolls, and means electrically connecting said detector to the electrical circuit of the textile machine for stopping operation of the textile machine upon movement of said detector to said raised or lowered positions.

3. In a textile sliver processing machine having a stationary frame, an electrical circuit for controlling operation of the machine, a vertically movable coiler mechanism in a normal manner and when the coiled sliver in to receive and pass therethrough and coil a continuous flow of textile sliver, a can having a predetermined sliver capacity associated with said coiler mechanism and adapted to receive coiled sliver from said coiler mechanism, said coiler mechanism being adapted to be raised when the coiled sliver in the can exceeds the capacity thereof, and a pair of rotatable calender rolls carried by said frame and disposed above said coiler mechanism for feeding sliver therebetween to said coiler mechanism; the combination of an electrically conductive detector disposed between the calender rolls and the coiler mechanism and having a sliver passageway therethrough, resilient means normally maintaining said detector in a normal position to maintain operation of the textile machine when the sliver is uninterruptedly passing therethrough from the calender rolls to the coiler mechanism in a normal manner and when the coiled sliver in the can has not exceeded the capacity thereof, said detector being movable from said normal position to a raised position upon a choke-up occurring between the detector and the coiler mechanism or upon the coiled sliver in the can exceeding the capacity thereof and raising the coiler mechanism, said detector being movable from said normal position to a lowered position upon a choke-up occurring between the detector and the calender rolls, and said detector being operatively connected to the electrical circuit of the textile machine for interrupting the operation of the textile machine when the detector is located at either of said raised or lowered positions.

4. In a textile processing machine according to claim 3, wherein said resilient means includes means for electrically insulating said detector from said frame.

5. In a textile machine according to claim 3, wherein one of said calender rolls and said coiler mechanism have electrical conducting surfaces leading to ground and wherein said detector contacts said one calender roll in the raised position and contacts said coiler mechanism in the lowered position to electrically ground said det5 tector and said electrical circuit of the textile machine.

6. In a textile machine according to claim 3, wherein said resilient means comprises a plurality of threaded members extending through said detector and carried by said frame, electrically insulating members surrounding portions of said threaded members and electrically insulating said detector from said threaded members, and compression springs disposed between said frame and said insulating members for spacing said detector from said frame in said normal position of said detector.

'7. In a textile machine having a stationary frame, an electrical operating circuit for controlling operation of the machine, a vertically movable rotatable coiler mechanism associated with said stationary frame and adapted to receive and pass therethrough and coil a continuous flow of textile sliver, a can having a predetermined sliver capacity associated with said coiler mechanism and adapted to receive coiled sliver from said coiler mechanism, said coiler mechanism being adapted to be raised when the coiled sliver in the can exceeds the capacity thereof, and a pair of rotatable calender rolls carried by said frame and disposed above said coiler mechanism for feeding sliver therebetween to said coiler mechanism, the combination of an electrically conductive detector disposed between the calender rolls and coiler mechanism and having a passageway therein for the passage of sliver therethrough from said calender rolls to said coiler mechanism, resilient means maintaining said detector in a normal position when the sliver is uninterruptedly moving therethrough and out of the coiler mechanism, and when the coiled sliver in the can has not exceeded the capacity thereof, said resilient means comprising a plu rality of adjustable members extending through said detector and being carried by said frame, insulating members carried by said detector and electrically insulating said detector from said adjustable members and comprcssion springs disposed between said frame and said insulating members for normally maintaining said detector spaced from said frame and in said normal position, said detector being movable from said normal position to a raised position upon a choke-up occurring between the detector and the coiler mechanism or upon the coiled sliver in the said can exceeding the capacity thereof and raising the coiler mechanism, said detector being movable to a lowered position upon a choke-up occurring between said detector and said calender rolls, means operatively connecting said detector to the electrical circuit of the textile machine, said detector adapted to contact one of said calender rolls in said raised position and said coiler mechanism in said lowered position, and said one calender roll and said coiler mechanism having electrical conducting surfaces leading to ground for grounding the electrical circuit of the machine when said detector contacts said one calender roll or said coiler mechanism for stopping the operation of the textile machine.

for stopping operation References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 519,295 5/ 1894 Taft 19-2 704,704 7/ 1902 Meats et al 19--23 2,270,720 1/1942 Thompson.

FOREIGN PATENTS 847,716 9/ 1960 Great Britain.

MERVTN STEIN, Primary Examiner. DORSEY NEWTON, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,316, 597 May 2, 1967 Allen B. Nivens It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 30, strike out "anism in a normal manner and when the coiled sliver in" and insert instead anism associated with said stationary frame and adapted Signed and sealed this 21st day of November 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. IN A TEXTILE SILVER PROCESSING MACHINE HAVING A STATIONARY FRAME, AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF THE MACHINE, A VERTICALLY MOVABLE COILER MECHANISM ASSOCIATED WITH SAID STATIONARY FRAME AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND PASS THERETHROUGH AND COIL A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF TEXTILE SLIVER, A CAN HAVING A PREDETERMINED SLIVER CAPACITY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID COILER MECHANISM AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE COILED SILVER FROM SAID COILER MECHANISM, SAID COILER MECHANISM BEING ADAPTED TO BE RAISED WHEN THE COILET MECHANISM BEING ADAPTED TO BE RAISED THEREOF, AND A PAIR OF ROTATABLE CALENDAR ROLLS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME AND DISPOSED ABOVE SAID COILER MECHANISM FOR FEEDING SLIVER THEREBETWEEN TO SAID COILER MECHANISM; THE COMBINATION OF A DETECTOR DISPOSED BETWEEN THE CALENDER ROLLS AND THE COILER MECHANISM, MEANS NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID DETECTOR IN A NORMAL POSITION TO MAINTAIN OPERATION OF THE TEXTILE MACHINE WHEN THE SLIVER IS UNINTERRUPTEDLY PASSING FROM THE CALENDER ROLLS THROUGH THE COILER MECHANISM IN A NORMAL MANNER AND WHEN THE COILED SLIVER IN THE CAN HAS NOT EXCEEDED THE CAPACITY THEREOF, SAID DETECTOR BEING MOVABLE FROM SAID NORMAL POSITION TO A RAISED POSITION UPON A CHOKE-UP OCCURRING BETWEEN THE DETECTOR AND THE COILER MECHANISM, OR UPON THE COILED SLIVER IN THE CAN EXCEEDING THE CAPACITY THEREOF AND RAISING THE COILER MECHANISM, SAID DETECTOR BEING MOVABLE FROM SAID NORMAL POSITION TO A LOWER POSITION UPON A CHOKE-UP OCCURRING BETWEEN THE DETECTOR AND THE CALENDER ROLLS, AND SAID DETECTOR BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT OF THE TEXTILE MACHINE FOR INTERRUPTING THE OPERATION OF THE TEXTILE MACHINE WHEN THE DETECTOR IS LOCATED AT EITHER OF SAID RAISED OR LOWERED POSITIONS. 